It’s estimated that about 1 in 10 people will experience kidney stones at some point in their life.  (1)

Recognizing the early signs of kidney stones can help prevent the condition from worsening, allowing for timely management before complications arise.

Kidney Stone Symptoms

Kidney stone symptoms vary depending on the stone's size and location within the urinary tract. Small stones, about the size of a grain of sand, may not cause any noticeable symptoms and can pass naturally. However, larger stones, about the size of a small pebble, can cause intense pain and bleeding when they block the urinary passages. (1)

Generally, the larger the stone, the more pronounced the symptoms, which may include: (2)(3)

• Severe, sharp pain in the loin, lower back, or abdomen that may radiate to the groin and thigh, often lasting from minutes to hours and coming in waves.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Persistent stomach.
• Blood in the urine.
• Fever and chills (often indicating a urinary tract infection).
• Pain during urination, which can be severe when larger stones pass.
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine.
• A frequent, urgent need to urinate.

What to Do If You Have Kidney Stones Symptoms

If you suspect you have kidney stones, contact your doctor promptly to avoid complications, especially if symptoms are severe. While waiting for your appointment, drink plenty of water to help flush out the stone. If you pass a stone, try to collect it in a sealed bag and bring it to your doctor for analysis.

After examination, your doctor will likely order a CT scan to determine the size and location of the stones. Depending on these findings, he may recommend surgery or allow the stone to pass naturally with the help of medications.

The UrologyDepartment at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital provides advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques, including laser lithotripsy and shock wave therapy. Book a consultation today!

Kidney Stones Treatment Options

Depending on the stone's type, size, and location, your doctor may recommend a wait-and-see approach, allowing the stone to pass naturally, with medications to relieve pain and relax the urinary tract. (5)

In some cases, medical procedures or surgery may be required to break up or extract kidney stones, particularly if they are large or blocking the urinary tract. Treatment options include: (3)(5)

1- Conservative Treatment (Observation andMedication)

If stones have moved into the ureter and are smaller than 5 mm, it may pass naturally.  In such cases, your doctor may recommend:

• Pain relievers to ease discomfort as the stone passes.
• Drinking plenty of water—aim for at least 6–8glasses daily.
• Medication to relax the ureter, such astamsulosin (Omnic OCAS® or Prosta Tab®), to facilitate stone passage.
• Additional medications like Rowatinex may alsobe prescribed to help dissolve or break up stones and relieve symptoms.

2- Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Suitable for stones between 5–20 mm not located in the lower part of the kidney. It isn’t useful for very large or hard stones.

This method uses external shock waves to break stones into smaller pieces for easier passage. This non-invasive proceduretypically takes about an hour and may require mild to full anesthesia, depending on the stone’s size and the patient’s health, to minimize discomfort.

3- Ureteroscopy

Ureteroscopy is used for:

• Stones up to 20 mm are located anywhere in the kidney or ureter.
• Hard stones.
• Stones that haven’t responded to shock wave therapy.

Under general anesthesia, the surgeon inserts a scope through the urinary opening to directly remove small stones or uses laser power to break them into smaller fragments, which are then either removed directly or left to pass naturally with the urine.

4- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

For complex or very large stones (larger than 20 mm), this technique involves making small incisions in the skin over the kidney and inserting a scope to directly extract the stones, or, if they are large, ala ser may be used to break them into smaller pieces before removal. This procedure is also performed under general anesthesia. 

References

1. National Kidney Foundation - Kidney Stones
2. National Kidney Foundation of Arizona - Kidney Stones
3. American Kidney Fund - Kidney Stones: Causes, symptoms and treatment options
4. The British Association of Urological Surgeons - Kidney stones
5. Michigan Medicine - Kidney Stones